Wonders in the Sky - Quebec`s 400th Anniversary Airshow by Bruno Tucci. Additional photos by Takayuki Tei

Can you say you have been to a birthday party that hosted the Red Arrows, Thunderbirds, Blue Angels and Snowbirds? The thousands of people who attended the 2008 Quebec Familiprix International Air Show can!

2008 marks the 400th anniversary of Quebec City, a milestone being celebrated with literally thousands of events throughout the whole year. Quebec City, or "Quebec" as it is known to locals, is located in the Canadian province of the same name, 150 miles east of Montréal.

The airshow action took place on the weekend of June 13-15 at Jean Lesage International Airport. The show offered a rare chance to compare the routines of four national jet teams. The Thunderbirds and Blue Angels put on dazzling displays of raw power, speed, and agility. Their fast-paced routines, coupled with rocking music, had you looking left and right in anticipation of the next maneuver. You had to check your six constantly for the sneak pass that you knew was coming, but still it got you every time.

The Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows have a very unique routine compared the US teams. Their rapid formation changes, one-of-a-kind maneuvers, and colored smoke bring something different to the table. You could say that the Red Arrows were the crowd’s favorites that weekend. The crowd was on their feet when the “Reds” dedicated their Heart maneuver to the crowd. The Red Arrows also treated the spectators to a dusk performance during the Friday night show. The setting sun filled the sky with an orange glow as the Red Arrows began their takeoff roll. The color of the sky, coupled with the team’s red, white and blue smoke, made for a unique atmosphere.

The “host” team for the weekend was the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. The Snowbirds may not be as loud as the other teams, or as fast, but their precision flying and tight formations made up for it.

Even over the radio, each team had its own style. The Reds sounded almost like they were yelling at each other. The Thunderbirds sounded like they were singing. The Blue Angels were quiet in comparison, sometimes sounding like they were whispering. The Snowbirds sounded the most professional. On the ground, it was apparent that all the teams were enjoying each others’ performances, but you could feel a bit of friendly competition between them.

Other acts included the Canadian Forces Sky Hawks parachute team, the CF-18 demo team, Dan Buchanan, Gene Soucy, Skip Stewart, and the Shock Wave jet truck. The static lineup featured American and Canadian military hardware, along with commercial and private aircraft.

This was rumored to be the last airshow in Quebec City. With the opening of a new terminal, the airport is expected to offer more flights and in turn will become a lot busier. Let’s hope that the increase doesn’t come soon enough to prevent a repeat show in two years’ time!

Acknowledgements

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